title: The clinical inference process and the role of theory.
abstract: Perhaps the most challenging and creative aspect of clinical testing is the clinical inference process, the sequential steps the examiner takes in transforming the raw test data into a clinically relevant testing report. Unfortunately, this part of the testing process has received little attention in the testing literature. In this article, the specific steps in the inferential process are outlined. In addition, the ways in which theory enter into the inferential process are also discussed.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lerner
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000379:methods*; D011599:Psychopathology